Vote out corrupt politicians: Anna Hazare

Jalandhar/Ludhiana: "Corrupt" politicians will never allow the Lokpal Bill to be passed in Parliament, anti-graft activist Anna Hazare has said while urging people to elect representatives with clean image in next Lok Sabha polls.

"Politicians are elected to serve the public but they take the role of robbers once they enter Parliament and state assemblies and rob people of their wealth," said Hazare, whose Janatantra Yatra reached Jalandhar last evening.

Appealing the public to vote for politicians with a clean image, who can serve the public rather than "rule them", in the General Elections due next year, the activist said, "163 members and 15 ministers are tainted in the present Parliament. It is for you to understand whether their priority will be to try to wash off their taint or serve you".

Stressing the importance of Lokpal bill, Hazare said, "Jan Lokpal Bill is important for a corruption-free India and this is the reason the corrupt politicians won`t allow it to be passed.... Rise from your slumber. Don`t let them cheat you any longer".

Unfazed by the lukewarm response to his agitation this time, Hazare said he will fight for the bill to be passed "till my last breath" and rooted for "complete change" of the system.

Former Army chief V K Singh, who has accompanied Hazare, said, "The country is corruption ridden. Politicians try to divide us on caste, religion and regional lines and we are foolish enough to fall prey to it. So it is important that we wake up and elect the right people who can serve the nation."

The `Janatantra Yatra` arrived in Ludhiana on its second day today amidst tight security.

Hazare said he will call a `Jan Sansad` in Delhi after five months to chalk out the future strategy of the movement.

"It (Jan Sansad) will have representatives of all sections of the society," he said.

"Several important issues like the Right to Recall elected representatives, the role of the movement in the next Lok Sabha elections are part of his yatra. The basic unit of the Jan Sansad is the village," he added.